Almost two years after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launched the ‘common mobility card’ — called More Delhi — for seamless travel in Metro trains and certain DMRC-run feeder buses, the Delhi government has approved a proposal under which passengers will be able to use the card to travel in Metro trains, DTC buses and cluster buses run by DIMTS.

The Transport department of the Delhi government is working out the modalities after the proposal received Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung’s nod.

To be launched in a phased manner, changes will be made to the software used in the ticketing equipment of DTC and DIMTS, allowing them to accept the Metro smart cards.
Eventually, the plan is to ensure that people are able to use any mode of transport in Delhi, including auto-rickshaws and taxis, using the smart card.

A senior official in the Transport department said the common mobility card would initially be recharged at DMRC’s automated fare recharge booths inside Metro stations. “But eventually, a system will be put in place that will allow people to recharge the cards in other utility stores based on their bar codes,” the official said.

Once the common mobility card is successfully launched for DTC and cluster buses, the Delhi government will extend the facility to auto-rickshaws and taxis.

In December 2011, the Ministry of Urban Development had announced the launch of a nationwide interoperable transport card. As a first step, the ‘More Delhi’ card was introduced by the Delhi Metro in August 2012, with provisions for use in Metro trains and DMRC-run feeder buses.

Officials said the main objective of the card is to provide a hassle-free and seamless travel experience to commuters through a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which would eventually be made valid across cities and modes of transport.

“As a future plan, the card is envisaged to be a fare payment medium across different operators and different modes, including parking, toll, in all cities,” the official said.